Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-13
THE HEALTH OF THE STATE.
Mortality Report for March-Prevaiiins
Diseases.


| Diseases.
DIR. Gerard G. Tyrrell, Permanent Sec
retary of the State Board of Health, re-
ports as follows for the month OF March;
The mortality report for the month OF
March, reported from seventy-hye towns
and cities containing an estimated popula-.
ton of 5000, was $50, or at the rate OF
1.3 per thousand, which indicates an alb
sence of any general epidemic disease, ana
| a very low death rate. The meteorological
conditions for March were not favorable TO
| those suffering from diseases OF the respir-
atory organs.
Smallpox, although still threatening the
| southern portion of our State, has not as yet
assumed a positively epidemic form. Inc
other zymotic diseases prevailing are noted
for their generally benign type ana limited
extension.
Diarrhosa and dysentery have been noted
as occurring with frequency in Fresno,
Cottonwood, Napa, Castroville and Ander-
Measles prevail in Santa Cruz, Los Gatos,
Mohave, Los Angeles, Downey, Cotton,
| San Diego. Fresno. Hanford, Anaheim,
Redwood City, Davisville and Anderson.
Scarlet fever is prevalent in Amador,
st. Helena, Fresno, Hanford, Anahelm,
Downey, Roseyille, Mariposa, Jolon, Fort
Bidwell, Stockton, San Francisco and Sci
ma. The form OF this disease is noticeble
for its mildness.
Diphtheria, in a sporadic form, is present
| in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Downey,
| Nevada CITY. Petaluma, Sacramento, st.
Helena, Salinas, Fresno, MERGED, Ander-
son, Truckee, Millville and Napa. DIR. N.
| Il. Pond. of Napa, writes that the cases
| there were of rather severe type, and be
! lieyed to have been imported from San
Francisco. Rigid isolation and perfect dis
infection prevented its spread beyond Its
Observation-Disclosures. The Napa Board of
Health have agreed to draft an ordinance
| compelling the exhibition of distinctive
| flag to mark infected houses. This is a
move in the right direction, and II all the
Boards of Health would follow this exam
pie, and warn people by flag OF the pres
ence of this dangerous disease, 1t would be
| the means of saving many lives and limit
| ing the diffusion of the diphtheritic poison.
Whooping cough is quite prevalent in
San Francisco, Stockton, Vallejo, Anaheim,
| Wheatland, Davis, Dixon, Martinez,
| Williams, MERGED and Sacramento.
Eryspelas is noticed in sporadic form in
Salinas, St. Helena, Fresno, Bakersfield,
Amador, Saucelito, Igo, Biggs, Anderson,
Cloverdale, Chico, Oakland and San Fran
cisco.
Typhoid fever is noticed as being OBJ
served in a few instances in MERGED, Santa
Cruz, Anaheim, Downieville and Amador
City. None other of the reports mention
the disorder showing the very remarkable
freedom that exists throughout the State
from this commonly endemic disease.
Pneumonia is mentioned as prevailing to
a greater or less extent in many places, es
pecially in Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Sacramento, Oakland, Stockton, Wheat
land, Davis, Colfax, Cloverdale, Redwood,
Lincoln, Biggs, Chico and Visalia.
Bronchitis, although prevailing extern
sively, is not of severe type.
Influenza is very general, but the type is
mild and not attended by any fatality.
Smallpox, we regret to say, has not yet
been stamped out " of the State. 1t pre-
walls to- a considerable extent in Los An
! geles. During the month some 56 cases,
as nearly as Can be ascertained, occurred
there, with nine deaths. There is no doubt
new cases will develop from day to day, in
fected by those who in their endeavor to
conceal the disorder, scatter it broadcast.
The thorough vaccination which has been
attempted in Los Angeles will, it is hoped,
keep the disease from becoming epidemic.
In Downey some twenty cases. according
to the report of DR.. Brown, occurred there
were no deaths, as the disease was in the
mild form. The smallpox also appeared
in Lugos settlement, IN Pasadena, Vernon
district, Ravenna, Bellona, and other places
in Los Angeles county. 1t also appeared
in Ontario, San Bernardino county, and in
San Diego. All these cases were imported
! from Los Angeles. The State Board of
Health have taken every precaution posi-
BILE to prevent the spread of the disease.
Northward, it has placed Medical Inspect
ors at San Diego, San Pedro, Mojave, Col
ton, Barstow, and Indio, to board all trains
and examine all passengers leaving Los
Angeles or coming over the borders of the
State. 1t has also requested the Federal
Government to place Medical Inspectors on
the Mexican frontier. The Board is happy
to announce chat Surgeon General Hamil-
ton has acceded to its request and placed
Inspectors at Yuma, NogaleS, Benson, and
Albuquerque with orders to inspect all
passengers and baggage crossing the from
tier. These precautions will be in vain If
our people do not attend to the only pre-
ventive measure which is thoroughly relia-
Bile, and that is vaccination. We are now
| in the face of imminent danger, and II
vaccination is not thoroughly performed
| throughout the State, we know not where
the disease may be conveyed and devel-
oped. Three cases have been imported
| from China into San Francisco. The au-
| thorities there, ever vigilant. had them at
once placed in the Small-po Hospital and
no damage from them is apprehended
However, we reiterate the necessity of gen.
eral vaccination, for in it, and it alone, is
there positive safety.